The anatomy of the right ventricle (RV) creates significant technical challenges to an accurate echocardiographic assessment. Proper image acquisition is highly dependent on precise movements and angulations of the transducer as well as the volume and pressure states of the…
The right ventricle (RV), which had been deemed the forgotten ventricle, is now recognized as a central player in cardiovascular function. Its physiology, shape, function, and coronary blood flow are complex and impose impediments to noninvasive imaging. This chapter reviews…
Acknowledgment The author thanks Dr. Scott D. Solomon for his contribution to the previous edition of this chapter. Historically, the echocardiographic assessment of diseases affecting the right ventricle (RV) has lagged behind that of the left ventricle (LV), despite knowledge…
Acknowledgments Dr. Gorcsan was supported, in part, by research grants from Medtronic, EBR Systems, GE Medical Systems, and V-Wave Ltd. Myocardial strain measurement using speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) has made major contributions to the care of patients with cardiac diseases. This…
Given its considerable diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic implications, the assessment of left ventricular (LV) regional systolic function forms an important part of any echocardiographic examination. Because coronary artery disease (CAD) is by far the commonest cause resulting in regional LV…
The assessment of global left ventricular (LV) systolic function is a cornerstone of risk evaluation and management in most cardiac diseases. The simplest and most widely used parameter for this purpose has been ejection fraction (EF) and regional wall motion…
Functional Anatomy of the Left Ventricle The left ventricle is a hollow muscular shell that is capable of ejecting more than 100 mL of blood at over 200 mm Hg of pressure and then filling with the same quantity of…
In 2001, the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) published a position paper that provided guidelines for sonographers performing contrast-enhanced echocardiographic studies. This chapter focuses on the sonographer’s role in four specific areas: (1) understanding of microbubble physics and ultrasound instrumentation,…
Contrast Use in the Intensive Care Unit Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting have a variety of illnesses, and echocardiography can offer real-time information on cardiac function, hemodynamics, and, in certain patients, potential causes of their illnesses. Furthermore,…
Echocardiography plays a critical role in the management of patients, especially in its ability to evaluate left ventricular (LV) global and regional function. Its clinical utility, however, may be affected by image quality. In approximately 10% to 15% of routine…